Florida State University has been recognized as one of the nation’s top “Access Improvers” for its outstanding efforts in supporting and educating traditionally underrepresented students.
A recent report by the nonprofit Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP), named Florida State as one of the top 10 “Access Improver” institutions in the nation.
According to the IHEP report, Florida State and nine other institutions doubled the national average (7.8 percent) of federal need-based grant enrollment over the past five years.
The report also cited Florida State’s deliberate efforts to identify high schools with traditionally underrepresented students as a key component of Florida State’s educational accessibility strategies.
One way that FSU demonstrates its commitment to traditionally underrepresented students is through the Center for Academic Retention & Enhancement (CARE). CARE provides preparation, orientation and academic support programming for first-generation college students. The vision of CARE is to motivate and prepare targeted middle and high school students to pursue a higher education.
In addition to recruiting, CARE prepares students for successful transition into college in order to help them achieve academic success at FSU. At Florida State, programs such as CARE provide the traditionally underrepresented students with the opportunity to attain a higher education, while also establishing diversity among the student body.
In addition to institutionally offered initiatives, the state of Florida’s outcome-based funding system awards points to institutions based on Pell enrollment. Florida State’s average Pell enrollment rate for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 was 27.7 percent. Due to the high achievement in this area, Florida State received additional state funding that was reinvested into additional grant aid for traditionally underrepresented students.
IHEP, established more than 20 years ago, develops policy and practice oriented research to guide policymakers in addressing our nation’s education challenges.